3. Khalil Lee
Minors (AA): 546 plate appearances, .264/.363/.372, 21 doubles, eight homers, 53 steals, 65 walks, 154 strikeouts
It is just a matter of time before Khalil Lee finds himself as the Kansas City Royals leadoff hitter.
A tremendous athlete, Lee has steadily risen through the Royals system since being selected in the third round out of high school in the 2016 MLB Draft. He was a two way player at the time, one that several teams preferred as a left handed pitcher. However, for the Royals, he has spent his time in the outfield, where his athleticism and strong arm have been on display.
Defensively, Lee has the instincts to play center, but may be a better fit in right. His tremendous arm can be quite the weapon, with his athleticism could potentially make Lee a perennial Gold Glove candidate.
Offensively, Lee could well end up as the Royals leadoff hitter for years to come. He has an extremely patient approach at the plate, working the count as much as possible. Sometimes, that approach borders on passiveness, as he will let hittable pitches go by without offering. If he refines that approach to be a bit more aggressive, it could unlock his power potential, making Lee a possible 15 homer, 40 steal threat. Interestingly, although Lee does not have outstanding speed, he picks his spots on the bases well and gets a tremendous jump, allowing him to be a threat on the basepaths.
The Kansas City Royals most recent heyday involved tremendous outfield defense. Khalil Lee is a throwback to that time, and could be a mainstay atop the Royals lineup.